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Elf Academy 3: The Enemy Within  by Fiondil 16 Review(s)
KittyReviewed Chapter: 20 on 6/23/2014
LOL – Caleb is such a sweetie! Of course he's a bit young to understand what Manwë meant. It was nice to have this amusing interlude, considering the rest of the chapter.

Well ... that leadership issue seems to be solved, at least for now. We'll have to see if the dissatisfied ones are now shutting up or if they keep complaining. Somehow I am not convinced that we have seen the last of it.

It's probably true that the Elves need to take a more active role in the political game, if they want to or not. Might be more something for some of the Valinórean Elves who lived at court for so long, though they have the disadvantage of not knowing the first thing how that is done in their new home.

Author Reply: Hi Kitty. Yes, Caleb is a cutie-pie at age 6 and Manwë was very sweet in how he dealt with him.

We can hope the leadership issue has been solved, but nothing is every that simple or easy even in real life.

And while politics is the bane of our existence these days, having some involvement in it can only be to the Elves' advantage. After all, they're going to be living there for a very long time, while all the Mortals they know today will be gone. I suspect that in not too many years (as Elves count them), they will be running the town, but that is for the future to decide.

Thanks for commenting. I appreciate it.

TariReviewed Chapter: 20 on 3/12/2014
The analogy with the candles was great and oh so true. The mortals certainly have a lot to digest.

Author Reply: I'm glad you liked the candles analogy, Tari. Both the Mortals and the Elves have a lot to digest. Thanks for reading and reviewing. I appreciate it very much.

galathilReviewed Chapter: 20 on 3/10/2014
Hi Finrod looks like the talk with Manwe went better than excepted. Lets hope that the leadership issue has finally being resolved. Also the *First and Second Born has being resolved once and for all.Are well we can all live in hope. Wonder what Finder &co want as well. Just have to wait for the next chapter. LOL Galathil(Hope my ramblings make sense,let me know if they do.)

Author Reply: Hi Galathil. Hopefully things have been resolved and it's good that Manwë set straight the whole "Firstborn/Secondborn" issue, even they probably don't really believe it. We'll have to see how things work out from this point on. Thanks for reviewing. It's appreciated.

obsidianjReviewed Chapter: 20 on 3/8/2014
Manwe's little pep-talk certainly cleared the air a bit. But I'm not sure how long this will last. Nobody really was asked what they think of joint rule and with Manwe standing right next to them, nobody from the elves would say something anyway, hierarchical in their thinking as they are, especially the nay-sayers. Even if they know that Manwe could hear them anyway, it is different to complain when the Vala is in their midst as if he is not physically present.
I loved Manwe's little speech about his multi-tasking. That certainly put some things into perspective.
Caleb is just too cute for his own good.

Author Reply: Hi obsidianj. Yes, you're right about the Elves and their reactions. We'll see how things fall out once they've had time to think things through and process what Manwë said.

I thought Manwë's explanation of his powers certainly put a lot of things about the Valar into perspective.

And Caleb is too cute, but them most kids that age are.

Thanks for reviewing. It's always appreciated.

LaerReviewed Chapter: 20 on 3/8/2014
Tom Peterson does not sound like a very nice person. Running on fear and hate is never a good podium to stand on. :( Maybe Amroth or Daeron can run for Mayor? They both have lived in the area long enough. Granted Amroth has a bit more experience with ruling... ;) Glad they have had a chance to clear the air. I am sure there will need to use an "air purifier" a few more times before it becomes more of an even road. That and they will need to keep an eye open for changes no matter how subtle. yikes. I would not like to be them.

Author Reply: No, Peterson doesn't sound like a nice person but how many of our leaders have used fear and hate as part of their platform and got away with it, at least for a while. Look at Hitler and Mussolini and Stalin, not to mention ordinary folk running for an office and using some group or other as a scapegoat for all the ills of the community and so forth. It's all too common these days, unfortunately.

And while the air has been cleared somewhat, you are correct that it will take more than one clearing for the Elves to get it together.

Thanks for taking the time to leave a review. I appreciate it.

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 20 on 3/8/2014
I consider the joint rule a good decision. Now to see what kind of campaign the neo-Nazi Elf haters run!

Author Reply: Joint rule really is the only way to go, here. As for the neo-Nazi Elf haters, we'll see what they get up to later on. Thanks for reviewing, Larner. It's appreciated.

SunnyReviewed Chapter: 20 on 3/7/2014
Tee-hee-hee. If Ingwë is whining about some new - like merely a yen or two - fashion craze among the Ladies, I wonder what he would say about Mortal fashions. Perhaps some enterprising and mischievous Maia might take it upon herself to bring some new inspiration to the Amanian fashion designers, maybe a book about fashion and costume design through the ages?

Author Reply: He would probably be shocked and appalled and would demand all the ellith return to Valinor lest they be corrupted. LOL!

SunnyReviewed Chapter: 20 on 3/7/2014
Well, you know that a person has become blasé about the Valar and Maiar popping out of thin air when one of them just asks "Vala or Maia?" when someone he doesn't know does one of those patented appearing acts. ;-) As you may guess, I liked Dave's cool-as-a-cucumber attitude. I'm sure the Elves were scandalized, though.
Young Caleb is just too precious for words! I loved the interaction between him and Manwë.
So there's a lid on the rift among the Elves - for now at least. But it would take more than an appearance from Manwë to really quash the attitudes that some of the Amanian Elves obviously have.

Hi, Kevana, you have a lot of fun ahead of you! The Parasol Protectorate books are a hoot! If you want more suggestions, I'm sure Fiondil can send you my e-mail address! ;-)

Author Reply: Hi Sunny. Yeah, Dave is pretty cool, isn't he? Being chief of police, he probably has learned to be very blasé at least on the outside but he was probably quaking in his boots on the inside.

Caleb is cute, but most six-year-olds are.

We'll see how things progress between the Elves from here, but you're right that it will take more than an appearance from Manwë to set things straight among some of the Elves.

I'll let Kevana know. Thanks and thanks for reviewing. It's always appreciated.

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 20 on 3/7/2014
Well, now one thing is more or less settled. Hopefully Manwe's appearance will leave enough of an impression that the naysayers will now toe the line. Joint rule between Finrod and Glorfindel makes the most sense.

I don't like the sound of the (so far) only candidate for mayor. But I can't really see any of the Elves running (would any of them be eligible? How long would they have to have been residents to run for office or even vote? I'm assuming that the paper trail created for them does make them American citizens, but various states and communities have differing residency requirements to register, so far as I know.) Anyway, I'd think it would need to be a mortal, at least this time around...

BTW, I loved Manwe's interaction with little Caleb.

Author Reply: Hi Dreamflower. More or less settled and probably less settled than most would hope as we will eventually see.

All the Wiseman Elves are American citizens. Glorfindel explains this to Finrod back in "Christmas in Edhellond" when they are discussing the possibility of an Elf running for mayor. Even so, I doubt any of them really want to get involved that way. We will be seeing how it goes as the story progresses.

I think the Manwë's interaction with Caleb is the highlight of the chapter myself.

Thanks for leaving a comment. It's very much appreciated.

LindeleaReviewed Chapter: 20 on 3/7/2014
LOL! "Chat" is such a... mild word for a conversation with a powerful spiritual being.

I don't quite get the reference to an owl? Perhaps it is from one of the earlier stories. I have just begun to read "Elf Academy" (the original), so maybe I'll get filled in on the background referenced in this chapter, eventually.

Author Reply: Hi Lindelea. You're reading this story backwards. The reference to an owl is found in the first Elf Academy story and it would certainly help to read EA2 and Christmas at Edhellond to understand more fully the dynamics that we see here in EA3.

And I think "chat" is a perfectly good word for a conversation with a powerful spiritual being. Even Námo thinks so. LOL!

Thanks for reading and reviewing. I appreciate it.

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